1. C 发生的事情；大事；事件　 sth that happens; an event
2. C 需要做的或需要思考的事情；事务　 sth that you need to do or think about; business

　administer ～s　处理〔管理〕事务
　arrange ～s　安排事务
　carry on an ～ with sb　与某人私通
　close an ～　了结一件事情
　conduct ～s　处理事情
　cover up an ～　掩盖一件事
　deal with ～s　处理事务
　deal with ～s of state　处理国家事务
　debate current ～s　辩论时事
　direct the ～s of other countries　对别国的事情指手画脚
　discuss the ～ of　讨论…事情
　handle ～s of state　处理国家事务
　have an ～ with sb　与某人发生暧昧关系，与某人私通
　hush up an ～　隐瞒一件事，秘而不宣
　hush up one's ～ with sb　遮掩与某人的暧昧关系
　investigate an ～　调查一件事情
　leave an ～ in sb's hand　把一件事托付某人做
　manage ～s　处理事务
　put one's ～s into another's hands　托别人管自己的事
　run ～s　处理事务
　settle ～s　解决事情
　settle one's ～s　在遗嘱中安排自己的事
　straighten out an ～　整顿一件事
　take the ～　处理这件事
　undertake the ～　承担那件事
　wind up the ～　结束事情
　big ～　大事，盛举
　casual ～　偶然的风流韵事
　complicated ～　错综复杂的事情
　cool ～　冷冷清清的事情
　delicate ～　微妙的事情
　disastrous ～　灾难性的事件
　dull ～　没趣的事，单调乏味的活动
　formal ～　正式的社交活动
　framed ～　预谋的事件
　much-talked-of ～　街谈巷议的事
　pitiful ～　伤心的事
　quiet ～　不声张的事
　regretful ～　遗憾的事
　romantic ～　风流韵事
　secret ～　私通
　serious ～　大事，正事，严肃的事
　sinister ～　不幸的事情
　small ～　小事
　tempestuous ～　狂恋
　terrible ～　可怕的事情
　tragic ～　悲惨的事件
　trifling ～　小事，琐事
　very small ～　极琐碎的事
　wonderful ～　奇异的事情
　worldly ～　世俗事务
　absurd ～　荒谬的事
　annual ～　一年一度的事情
　exciting ～　激动人心的事
　extramarital ～　婚外恋
　illicit ～　通奸
　informal ～　非正式的社交活动
　ugly ～　丑事
　unpleasant ～　令人不快的事
　civil ～s　民事
　cultural ～s　文化事务
　current ～s　时事
　day-to-day ～s　日常事务
　domestic ～s　家务，国内事务，内政
　everyday ～s　日常琐事
　external ～s　外事
　financial ～s　财政事务
　internal ～s　内政
　international ～s　国际事务
　legal ～s　法律方面的事务
　military ～s　军事
　municipal ～s　市政
　national ～s　民族事务
　personal ～s　个人的事情，私事
　political ～s　政治事务
　private ～s　个人的事情，私事
　public ～s　公众事务
　whole ～　整个事件
　love ～　恋爱事件，风流韵事，强烈的爱好
　business ～s　商务
　community ～s　社区事务
　family ～s　家务事
　foreign ～s　外交事务，外事
　government ～　政务
　household ～s　家务事
　veterans ～s　退伍军人事务
　man of ～s　事业家，实业家
　state of ～s　事态，形势
　in a pretty state of ～s　麻烦的处境，处境尴尬
　the bottom of ～　这件事的真相
　the Ministry of Foreign A～　外交部
　on business ～s　因公事
　on public ～s　因公事
　attitude towards the ～　对这件事的态度
　the ～ between sb and sb else　某人与某人间的暧昧关系
　～ at present　目前的事态
　～ of a business　业务
　～ of great importance　大事
　～ of great moment　大事
　～ of honor　决斗
　～ of love　私通
　～ of no consequence　无关紧要的事
　～ of several hours　几个小时的事
　～ of state　国家大事
　～ of the heart　恋爱事件
　～ of the university　大学的事务
　～ with sb　与某人的暧昧关系
　love ～ with travelling　对旅游的强烈爱好

　What is your attitude towards the affair?　你对这件事的态度怎样?
　He must take the affair in his own hands.　他必须亲自处理这件事。
　He is not yet experienced in that kind of affairs.　他对于处理那件事还没有经验。
　I know nothing of legal affairs.　我对法律方面的事情一无所知。
　The dean usually has an assistant to help with student's affairs.　系主任一般有助手协助办理学生方面的事务。
　If you will undertake the affair I shall be very grateful.　要是你愿意承办此事，我将不胜感激。
　The dispute is a long affair.　这一争议由来已久。
　The wedding was a very quiet affair.　那个婚礼办得静悄悄的。
　The affair has taken a new turn.　此事已有新的转机。
　The affair remains a complete mystery.　这件事仍完全是个谜。
　They are going to investigate affairs.　他们将对事态进行调查。
　It's an affair of three-day journey.　这是一个三日行程之事。
　The whole affair from start to finish did not occupy more than thirty seconds.　整个事件从开始到结束不超过30秒钟。
　He investigated the affair of his friend's disappearance.　他调查了他朋友失踪的事件。
　I tried to reassure her, and to make light of the whole affair.　我极力使她安心，并努力淡化整个可怕的事情。
　The railway accident was a terrible affair.　那次火车事故是个可怕的事情。
　Their quarrel was a terrible affair.　他们之间的争吵是件可怕的事情。
　The affair between the manager and his secretary caused a scandal in the small town.　那位经理和他的秘书间的风流韵事在小城里成为一宗丑闻。
　The two men appeared to be quarrelling, but I soon realized that it was a put-up affair, and not genuine.　这两个人看来像是在吵架，但我很快就发现这是假装的，不是真的。
　I was glad to be let out of that nasty affair, and have someone more experienced handle the trouble.　我真高兴能从那件棘手的事情中解脱出来，让更有经验的人去对付那个难题。
　How are your affairs going?　你的情况怎样?
　As affairs stand, I will not go.　照目前的情况，我不想去。
　Affairs are in a good condition.　目前情况很好。
　What is the actual state of affairs?　目前的形势如何?
　Affairs at present are very unsettled.　目前的事态很不稳定。
　This is an impossible state of affairs.　这是无法忍受的情况。
　He told us how affairs stood in the countryside.　他告诉了我们乡下的情况。
　The nation's internal affairs are bad.　这个国家的内部情况很乱。
　That's my affair.　这不干你的事。
　This is no affair of mine.　这不是我的事。
　Mind your own affairs.　少管闲事。
　Don't worry about that—it's not your affair.　别操心了——那不是你的事。
　It is nothing, just a trifle affair.　这没有什么，只不过小事一桩。
　The journey from Beijing to Shanghai is now only an affair two hours by plane.　现在从北京到上海乘飞机只不过是两小时的事。
　The exhibition will be a big affair.　这次展出将是一个盛举。
　The annual dance is a grand affair, and involves the whole town.　一年一度的舞会是件大事，况且涉及全镇居民。
　Seeing a book through the press is a laborious and time-wasting affair.　将一本书印刷出版是一件吃力而又耗费时间的事。
　The project was an important but time-consuming affair.　这项工程很重要，但耗费时间。
　She does the domestic affairs.　她每天都忙家务。
　Running a household is a complex affair.　料理家务是一件复杂的事情。
　Leave me alone, mind your own affairs.　别管我，去照料自己的事吧。
　She is quite able to manage her own affairs.　她完全有能力处理自己的事。
　What I do in my spare time is my own affair.　我业余时间干什么是我自己的事。
　He resents people poking their noses into his private affairs.　他讨厌人家干预他的私事。
　They don't want to get mixed up in it because it isn't their affair.　因为那不是他们的事儿，所以他们不想参与。
　You cannot expect your son to manage his affairs satisfactorily.　你不能指望你的儿子把自己的事情料理得令人满意。
　I left my affairs in the hands of my son and went to Beijing.　我把我的事务交给我儿子后就上北京了。
　Edison has had the gift of picking the right men to handle his affairs.　爱迪生具有挑选合适人选处理他事务的才能。
　We should concern ourselves with state affairs.　我们要关心国家大事。
　He is an expert in foreign affairs.　他对外交深有研究。
　Foreign affairs should be handled carefully.　处理对外事务要谨慎行事。
　The ministry administers the internal affairs.　这个部主管内政事务。
　The Prime Minister is kept busy with affairs of state.　总理忙于国务。
　The chairman has many affairs to look after.　主席有许多事务要处理。
　The prime ministers agreed that no country should interfere in another country's internal affairs.　总理们同意一个国家不应该干预别国内政。
　The internal affairs of any state, whether it's big or small, do not allow of external interference.　国家虽有大小，但它的内政是不容许外国干涉的。
　We are quite explicit about political affairs.　我们对政治问题态度十分明朗。
　The Federal Republic agrees to conduct its affairs in conformity with the principles stated in the charter.　联邦共和国同意按照宪章所述各条原则处理国家事务。
　Participation in public affairs is encouraged.　参与公共事务是受到鼓励的。
　She's being very decent about the whole affair.　关于全部事务她一直满意。
　Breakfast was a very subdued affair.　早餐吃得很压抑。
　The party was a vast and lavish affair.　宴会规模很大，办得很豪华。
　She accompanied him to an affair at the Newspaper Photographers' Association.　她陪他去摄影记者协会参加一次招待会。
　The retired engineer takes an active part in neighbourhood affairs.　这位退休工程师积极参加街道活动。
　What's that strange-looking affair over there?　那边那个奇形怪状的东西是什么?
　This machine is a complicated affair.　这机器是件很复杂的东西。
　The candy box is really a little pretty affair.　那件糖果盒真是件可爱的小玩意儿。
　His car is only a second-hand affair.　他的汽车不过是辆二手货。
　The building is not an unsightly affair.　那幢大楼不难看。
　In the beginning it was a pretty affair.　开始时它相当漂亮。
　The meeting was a noisy affair.　会议开得吵吵闹闹。
　The luncheon was simply a dull affair.　那次午餐简直没有趣味。
　His anger is an affair of no consequence.　他的愤怒无关紧要。
　Life would be a dull affair.　人生也许会单调乏味。
　Lunch was delicious, a very American affair.　午餐很可口，很有美国风味。
　They are mostly one-storey frame affairs.　它们多数是木板平房。
　The concert was rather an amateurish affair.　这场音乐会颇有些外行客串的味道。
　Haas has had an affair with the pretty girl.　哈斯爱上了那个漂亮姑娘。
　She had numerous love affairs before marriage.　婚前她谈过许多次恋爱。
　It is rumoured that he is having an affair with his secretary.　谣传他和他的秘书有暧昧关系。
　He attempted to cover up his affair with that fat woman.　他企图掩盖他和那胖女人之间的暧昧关系。
　It is rumoured that Tom is having an affair with Mary.　谣传汤姆正和玛丽搞男女关系。
　It was said that Jim had affairs with Joan.　据说吉姆和琼有了风流事。

 ♣ settle one's affairs
　（尤指远行、入伍等之前）把个人事务料理停当　(especially before go far or join the army, etc.) finish personal affair well
　I have to settle my affairs before leaving here.　离开这儿以前，我得把一些私人的事情安排妥当。

 ♣ affair, business, concern, matter, thing
　这组词在含糊地指那些所做的事时意义相近，常可互换。例如：
　It is a regretful affair〔business, concern, matter, thing〕.　这是一件遗憾的事。
　I don't talk to her about private affairs〔business, concerns, matters, things〕.　我从不和她谈私事。
　它们之间的区别在于：
1. 从模糊程度上看， affair
　How did you find things in America?　你觉得美国怎样?
2. 从含义上看， affair强调运行或操作过程，如一道程序，一笔交易，一个行动，一项事业等。business强调职责关系，例如：
　It is her business to take good care of the baby.　看护好这个婴儿是她的职责。
　concern　强调利害相关，例如：
　It is no concern of mine.　此事与我无关。
　matter　强调必须考虑和处理，例如：
　We have a lot of matters to do.　我们有许多事情要做。
　thing　则是一般用语，口语中常表示说话内容预先未考虑好或说话者力图掩饰自己的观点，例如：
　I've another thing to talk with you.　我还有一件事跟你说。
3. 从用法上看， business不能用复数，而affair在指重大的或头绪较多的事务时则需要用复数。
4. 从搭配范围上看，与foreign、international、state等词连用时只能用affair，在短语have an affair with sb （与某人有不正当男女关系）中也只能用affair. 在指商业上的生意和活动或指“公事”“正事”时只能用business，例如：
　It's a pleasure to do business with you.　很高兴和你做生意。
　Business before pleasure.　公事比娱乐要紧。
　口语中作“出了毛病”“失常”解时，只能用matter而不能用affair和business，例如：
　What's the matter with you?　你怎么啦?
　在泛指“东西”“物品”时，用affair和thing均可。例如：
　And these Tubes were convenient things〔affairs〕.　而这地下铁道是非常方便的东西。

　［同义词］ amour, business, fact, matter, satisfaction, thing
　［词源］古英语afere（事情）